Red brown color with a small, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla, rye malt, caramel malts, nuts, and alcohol. Taste of nuts, rye, burnt malts, vanilla, and bourbony alcohol in the finish.

22 oz bottle. Pours a dark amber body with a small wispy beige head. Nice earthy and spicy rye nose with some complementary hops over a slightly sweet caramel and bourbon base. The flavor is very spicy with a hefty bourbon laced finish bringing on some vanilla and alcohol. I don’t especially dig the barrel character of this one, seems to be a bit overdone. Mouthfeel is fizzy and lively, helping cut the heavy body a little bit. Not bad, but a touch too boozy and alcoholic.

Received a 22-oz bottle via trade with Sully. Pours a hazy caramel amber colored brew with a decent beige head that quickly dissipates to a thin ring and some spotty lacing. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, roasted dark malt and even some Irish rye whiskey. Taste quite complex with profiles of rye and bourbon whiskey, toffee, vanilla and even some sweet apple. Finish is semi-sweet, bourbon presence, yet quite smooth in texture and then flavor. Alcohol is well hidden in the special release.

Pours a medium brown with a slightly reddened tint. Off white head. Smell is very nice and quite strong. Rye whiskey is really apparent in the nose, almost completely dominating. A bit balanced out by some sweet caramel. Taste is quite similar although not as well integrated. Body is the one drawback, as it is a bit thin and undercarbonated. One of my favorte Smuttynose beers to date.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 09-25-2010

There is some sour rye in the flavor. Brown sugar and bourbon, which makes this hot on the palate, and also a fairly thick beer. Very little carbonation. The bourbon works about as well as bourbon can work in a beer.

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